Distributing appliance



Dec. 19, 1967 c. FELDZER 3,358,801

' DISTRIBUTING APPLIANCE Filed April 12, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR CONSTANTIN FELDZER M. a il ATTORNEYS. v

C. FELDZER DISTRIBUTING APPLIANCE Dec. 19, 1 967 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 12, 1965 INVENT OR CONSTANTIN FELDZER FIG. 2

ATTORNEYS,

Dec. 19, 1967 c. FELDZER 3,353,301

DISTRIBUTING APPLIANCE Filed April 12, 1965 r 5 Sheets-Sheet s AT EYS.

Dec. 19, 1967 c. FELDZEiR 3,358,801

DISTRIBUTING APPLIANCE Filed April 12, 1965 s Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR CONSTANTIN FELDZER ATTORN EY$.

Dec. 19, 1967 c. FELDZER 3,353,801

DISTRIBUTING APPLIANCE Filed April 12, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet, 5

FIG. 9

INVENTOR CONSTANTIN FELDZER ATTORNEY$.-

United States Patent 29 Ciairns. (Cl. 194-2) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLUSURE A coin operated distributing apparatus capable of delivering one or more articles and change in the amount equal to the difference between the value of the selected article or articles and the value of the inserted coin.

Distributing appliances are already known, enabling, by inserting a coin into the appliance, the releasing of shutters or drawers thus affording access to given articles.

However, these appliances only allow the distribution of articles that correspond in value to the value of the coin inserted in the appliance. Also, these appliances only allow a single article to be distributed and are automatically locked until a new coin is inserted, as soon as the article has been secured.

Consequently, these appliances are only of a relatively reduced interest, because they only allow of distributing a single article Whose value corresponds to the value of the coin and do not enable articles to be distributed of a lesser value than that of the coin inserted by automatically giving change according to the value of the articles chosen.

Also, these appliances do not allow the user to choose several articles and automatically give change according to the sum of values of the articles chosen.

With regard to these known appliances, the present invention has more particularly the object of producing a distributing appliance that is able to distribute one or more articles, these articles being of an identical value, or otherwise, the appliance enabling change to be given to the user and this, no matter how many articles are chosen and their value, the value of the chan e given always corresponding to the diiference between the sum of the values of the articles chosen and the value of the coin inserted.

Another object of the invention is to produce a distributing appliance which affords great safety and does not allow any fraud on the part of the purchaser.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and efficacious mechanical means preventing the distributing appliances from operating so long as a coin of a given value has not been inserted in the appliance.

Another object of the invention is to provide means preventing the appliance from operating for one, several or all of the articles when the ditference between the value of the coin inserted and the sum of the articles chosen is less than the value of the article required.

Another object of the invention is to provide means preventing several articles from being simultaneously chosen.

Another object of the invention is to provide means preventing the return of the components for selecting articles to the initial position as long as the components in question have not been taken to the end of their travel.

Another object of the invention is to provide change giving means which are independent of the selecting and safety devices for distributing articles and which do not come into connection with the selecting devices until the moment when the change giving device comes into action.

Another object of the invention is to provide means effecting the collection of the coin inserted only when the change giving device is actuated.

Another object of the invention is to provide means preventing the change giving devices from working as long as the selecting components are not in the rest position.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for disconnecting, making the change giving device inoperative as long as no article has been selected.

Another object of the invention is to provide means causing the closing of the distributing appliance when the change giving device has no more coins in it for giving change.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be revealed by the following description and claims, as well as the attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-section of the distributing appliance;

FIGURE 2 is a section along the line AA of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 shows a front view of the distributing appliance according to the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a section along BB of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a partial section along CC of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 shows the cutting of a form of embodiment of a registering pinion and the respective position of the angular displacement pawl and the non-return pawl;

FIGURE 7 shows another method of cutting the registering pinion;

FIGURE 8 shows an enlarged view of a method of embodiment of the drum;

FIGURE 9 shows another method of control of the registering drum.

The appliance shown in the attached drawings is intended to enable the distribution of any kind of articles of different value, the operator selecting the articles he requires as well as their number, the change corresponding to the difference between the value of the coin inserted and the sum of the value of the articles chosen being automatically given by the appliance.

This appliance comprises several locking or blocking devices intended to avoid any fraud and thus prevent the working of certain components as long as the other components have not been actuated or that certain conditions have not been fulfilled.

Before explaining the construction and working of the appliance in question in detail, we shall describe its general structure hereafter.

This appliance consists of a casing 1 provided with a front face 2 on which various control buttons are placed as well as various shutters or drawers enabling articles and change to be withdrawn.

This front face 2 also comprises a slot 3 for inserting a coin 4.

Behind this slot is a coin selector 5 made in a manner known in itself and intended to prevent the coin from descending inside the distributor if this coin is not according to the one that should be inserted in the appliance.

In the case where these coins are not in accordance with those provided for, this selector evacuates said coins through a passage 6, towards a trough 7 provided in the front face 2 so that the operator can recover this coin that is not a proper one.

This appliance also comprises a receptacle 8 with several columns, five, for instance: 8 '8 8 8 8 intended to receive coins of various values. This receptacle 8 is tiltable at its top part on a spindle 9.

This appliance also comprises selecting components, four, for instance 10, 11, 12, 13 intended to act, on the one hand, on a drum 14 (see more particularly FIGURE 8) determining the amount of change to be given, and on the other, on a registering component 15 (see FIG- URES 6 and 7 more particularly), intended to add up under the form of rotation angles, the values of the various articles chosen.

This appliance also comprises a key 16 releasing the change giver so that the operator can recover the change due to him in a place 17.

The appliance also comprises a place 18 enabling the operator to take possession of the various articles he has selected in value and number.

The magazine for articles distributed is not shown in the attached drawings, but it is obvious that this magazine can be made in any manner for distributing various objects such as stamps, tickets, liquid or solid foodstuffs in bulk or packaged.

The attached drawings only show the conducting elements 19, 20, 21 and 22 intended to enable the starting up of these magazines.

These components can, for instance, be formed by electric contact-pieces actuated by the selecting members 10, 11, 12 and 13 when the latter reach the end of travel (FIGURE 1).

Once the coin 4 has been inserted in the appliance through the slot 3, it reaches the coin selector; if the coin is not the right one, it is stopped, the operator can recover his refused coin by pressing on the key 23 and recover it in the trough 7.

When the coin is accepted, it falls through a passage 24 into a housing formed by a passageway 25 tiltable on a spindle 25 and two side by side sliding plates 26 and 27. Resilient means (not shown) press on these plates 26 and 27 in the direction of the arrows F F so as to return them to the initial position after any displacement.

These two plates comprise arms 26 and 27 forming a stirrup so that the coin 3 that rests between the arms of this stirrup, forms a cross-bar between the two plates.

In this manner, the plate 27, moved by the rocking lever 28, moves the plate 26 at the same time by means of the coin 3 acting as a cross-bar.

The utility of this device will be described subsequently.

The device for selecting articles comprises, as already mentioned, four keys 10, 11, 12, 13 provided at their ends with catches on which the studs 29, 30, 31 and 32 of a lever 33, press.

This lever pivots on a spindle 34 on which are also fixed the registering pinion 15 and the perforated drum 14. This lever 33 also comprises a pawl 35 pivotally mounted at 35 and intended to engage with the teeth of the registering pinion 15 so as to entail its angular displacement.

However, the position of the studs 29, 30, 31 and 32 is determined on the lever 33 so that for an appreciably identical travel of the keys 10, 11, 12 or 13, the angular course of these studs varying according to the position of the studs 29, 30, 31, 32 owing to the different distances separating these studs from the spindle 34.

The studs 29, 30, 31 and 32 thus assume the positions 29 29 29;, and 29 shown by dotted lines in FiG- URE 1.

Owing to this construction, we shall obtain an angular displacement of the pinion 15 and drum 14 which is different according to the key that is actuated.

By way of example, by acting on the key 10, we thus obtain a displacement of siX teeth of the pinion 15, whereas for the key 11, we obtain a displacement of five teeth, for the key 12 a displacement of four teeth, and for the key 13 a displacement of three teeth.

These angular displacements of the registering pinion 15 correspond to the identical displacements of the drum 14 which is provided with perforations or slots (see FIG- URE 8) so as to be able to control the distribution of a sum of money corresponding to the difference between the value of the coin 3 inserted and the sum of the values of the articles chosen by means of the components 10, 11, 12 and 13.

This drum 14 is thus provided with five series of slots 30,, 30 30 30 and 30 each corresponding to one of the change columns 8 8 8 8 8 provided on the change receptacle 8 and respectively containing coins of 0.05 F, 0.10 F, 0.20 F, 0.20 F and 0.50 F.

The receptacle 8 pivotally mounted at its top part on the spindle 9 comprises, at its lower part, as many tongues 36 as there are change columns, these tongues 36 each being placed facing a series of perforations 30 30 30 30 30 These tongues 36 are slidably mounted at the bottom part of the receptacle 8 so that when the receptacle is tipped towards the drum 14 and that these tongues abut against the periphery of this drum, these tongues slide at the lower part of the receptacle, so as to eject the last coin 37 from one or more of the columns in order to give change as a function of the articles chosen; these coins are then conveyed through a passage 38 into a trough 39 situated opposite to the opening 17 of the frontal part of the distributor.

The slots of each of the series of slots 30,, 30 30 30 30 are so positioned on the drum that, for each of the generatrices of this drum, corresponding to a motionless position facing the tongues 36 after actuating one of the keys 10, 11, 12 or 13, the solid surfaces existing facing the tongues 36 correspond to the amount of change to be given.

Thus, supposing that the keys 10, 11, 12 and 13 correspond to articles respectively having a value of 0.15 F, 0.20 F, 0.25 F, 0.30 F and supposing that the operator has actuated the keys 10, 11 and 13, the sum due from the operator is 0.15 F+0.20 F+0.30 F=0.65 F.

At this moment, the change to be given by the appliance is thus 0.35 F if the coin inserted was 1 F.

If, as already stated, the actuating of the keys 10, 11, 12 or 13 corresponds to angular displacement of 3, 4, 5 and 6 teeth, the total angular displacement made by actuating the keys 10, 11 and 13 will be 3+4+6=l3 teeth.

The positioning of the drum in relation to the registering pinion will then be such that the tongues 36 are placed opposite to the generatrix 40 corresponding to the fourteenth generatrix starting from the bottom (see FIGURE 8). We then seen that the tongues abut against the periphery of the drum are those corresponding to the columns of change coins for 0.05 F, 0.10 F, 0.20 F.

The amount of change will thus be 0.35 F, while the operator will collect one each of articles for 0,15 F, 0.20 F, and 0.30 F, i.e., of a value of 0.65 F.

Racks 41 are fixed on the selecting components 10, 11, 12, 13 terminated at each end by cavities 41 and 41 Fingers 12 are placed opposite these racks, said fingers rocking around a vertical position and held by springs 83 so that when one of the selecting components 10, 11, 12 or 13 is pushed in, the fingers 42 engage with the teeth of the rack 4-1 so as to prevent the return to the starting position of said selecting component as long as the latter has not been conveyed to the end of its travel.

However, when the selecting component is conveyed to the end of its travel, the pawl 42 falls into the housing 41, which has the efif'ect of controlling the tipping in the inverse direction of the finger 42 when the selecting component tends to revolve in the starting position.

On the selecting components 10, 11, 12 and 13 there are also elements 44 fixed provided with an inclined plane 44 this element 44 being intended to separate cores 45 (see FIGURE 4) placed in a. slider 46. This slider 46 is closed, at one end, by means of a core 47, and is open at the other end. On this account, when one of the keys 10, 11, 12 or 13 is pushed in, the inclined plane 44 of the corresponding element 44 is housed between two cores so as to raise them and bring the upper core 45 into a notch 27 of the plates 26 and 27.

The working of the blocking device is as follows:

When the operator begins to press on one of the keys 10, 11, 12 or 13, the lever 33 acts on the lever 48 which acts in its turn on the plate 27 so as to displace it against the spring F If a coin 4 is placed between the arms 26 27 the plate 26 moves at the same time as the plate 27, so that the notch 27 cornes above the core 45 At this moment, the element 44 can come between two cores 45, separate them and thus enable the complete pushing in of one of the keys 10, 11, 12 or 13 as the end core 45 can enter into the notch 27 The depth of this notch is made to correspond to the width of an element 44, making the simultaneous pushing in of two of the selecting components or keys 10, 11, 13 or 14 impossible.

When one of the keys is pushed in under the action of the operation, the pawl 35 held in the top starting position by the stop 35 and spur 35 drops on to the teeth of the registering pinion 15 so as to revolve this pinion for a certain number of teeth. Once the lever 10, 11, 12 or 13 has reached the end of travel (which is obligatory owing to the rack 41 and finger 42), the latter returns to the starting position under the action of the spring F and is ready for choosing a new article.

However, the registering pinion 15 remains itself in the given position, owing to the presence of the pawl 49 in the end, and presses into the teeth of this pinion 15 by means of a spring acting in the direction of the arrow F The operator can thus press several times on the keys for choosing several identical articles, or otherwise.

However, each key will be automatically locked as soon as the amount remaining due from the appliance becomes lower than the price of the article distributed by actuating the key in question.

Thus, as soon as the operator has chosen 0.80 F Worth of articles, he has only 0.20 F left, so that the keys 12 and 13 corresponding to articles at 0.25 F and 0.30 F are blocked.

The device enabling this safety arrangement to be obtained is as follows: a cam 50 is fixed on the registering pinion 15 concentrically to the spindle 34 and a lever 51 rocking around a spindle 51 fixed on the frame presses on one of the ends of this cam, while the other end of this lever 51 supports a slide 52 provided with notches 53.

This slide is fixed perpendicularly to the selecting components 10, 11, 12 and 13, each of its notches having an entry passage of difierent dimension.

On the selecting components 10, 11, 12 and 13, studs 54, 55, 56 and 57 are fixed so that one or more notches 53 blocks one or more studs 54, 55, 56 and 57 and thus the components 10, 11, 12 or 13 according to the position of the slide 52.

These various elements (slide 52 and lever 51) are held by springs acting in the direction of the arrows F F the spring acting in the F m direction having a greater strength than that acting in the F direction.

Owing to this embodiment, and by giving to the notches 53 entry passages of given dimension, it is possible that the rotation of the registering pinion and hence the rotation of the cam 50 produces displacements of the slide so that some of the selecting components are blocked when the articles distributed by these components are of a value exceeding the sum remaining available.

The distributing appliance also comprises a change giving device.

This device is started up by a key 16 on which a spring acts in the direction of the arrow F A rack 41 is also fixed on this key cooperating with a finger 42 and a spring 43 so that said key 16 cannot return to the starting position as long as it has not been conveyed to the end of its travel.

This, key 16 terminates at its front on which a sliding rod 59 presses.

This rod 59 has its upper end placed in the proximity of the plates 26, 27 forming a stirrup for the coin 4, in such manner that this rod 59 cannot rise when the plates 26 and 27 are shifted to the left, i.e., when one of the levers 10, 11, 12 or 13 is pushed in.

Actually, at this moment, the plates 26 and 27 prevent the upward movement of the rod 59 against the spring acting in the direction of the arrow F However, when all the keys 10, 11, 12 and 13 are in the motionless position, this rod can rise in order to enable the change key 58 to be pushed in.

This rod 16 is intended to thrust an arm 60 hinged at 60 and on which a spring (not shown) acts in the direction of the arrow F This spring is so placed as constantly to press the arm 60 on the cam 61 fixed on the registering pinion 15.

This cam 61 is so cut that the end 60 of the arm 60 is only placed in the extension of the key 16 when the choice of an article has not been made by one of the keys 10, 11, 12 or 13.

Owing to this, the change giving device is disengaged as long as no key 10, 11, 12 or 13 has been pushed in, which makes it impossible to use the appliance as a change giver.

On the other hand, the cutting of the cam 61 is such that as soon as one of the keys 10, 11, 12 or 13 has been pushed in, this arm 60 hinged at 60 rises so that its end 60 comes into the extension of the key 58, the pushing in of the key 16 will then repel the arm 60.

The hinge 60 of this arm 60 is fixed to the end of a lever made in two parts 62 and 63 made integral by an articulation spindle 64.

The end of the part 63 is itself hinged on a lug 65 integral with the lower end of the receptacle 8 of the exchange coins columns. In this way, when the arm 60 recoils under the action of the key 16, the lever 62 and 63 pivots around the spindle 64 so as to rock the receptacle 8 and return the tongues 36 towards the drum 14 to give change as a function of the articles chosen, as already described.

Abutments 66 are also provided on the tongues, sliding in slots 67 of the receptacle 8 and held by a part 68 in order to restore the tongues that have operated to their initial position.

This receptacle 8 also comprises a rod 89 which presses on the sloping side of a part integral with the tiltable passageway 25 held by a spring 91. Owing to this, when the receptacle 8 is tipped towards the drum 14, the rod 89 tips the passage 25 so as to make the coin drop 4 into the passage 92.

Above each of the change columns, there is a heavy weight 69 provided with a stud 69 so that as soon as all the coins of one of the columns has been put in, this stud 69 drops into perforation 70 in the lower part of the receptacle 8 so as to tip a stirrup 71 hinged on the frame of the appliance.

In FIGURE 1, the opening 70 is not placed facing the stirrup 71. It will, however, be understood that this perforation comes opposite to the stirrup 71 when the receptacle 8 is tipped towards the drum so that the end 69 presses on this stirrup 71 at the precise moment when the last coin of the column has been ejected and that the receptacle 8 comes away from the drum 14.

A stop 74 is also provided on the frame of the appliance so as to limit the displacement of the stirrup 71 upwards.

end, by a bevel 16 This stirrup 71 is integral with an arm on to which the end of a spring 73 is hooked, which is hooked by its other end to a fixed point 74.

In this manner, as soon as the stud 69, of the weight 69 tips the stirrup 71, the arm 72 is also tipped and remains in that position owing to the pull of the spring.

At the end of the arm 72 a wire '75 is hooked which passes over pulleys 76 and 77 and which is connected at its other end to a plate 78 hinged at '79 (see FIGURE 2).

This plate '78 is so made that on the one hand it closes the slot 3 for inserting the coin 4, and on the other to bring forward the warning closed instead of the word open appearing through the window 80.

In this manner, the distributing appliance is automatically locked as soon as one of the coin columns 8 8 8 8 or 8 has been emptied of coins.

On the sliding rod 59 connected with the key 16 there is also a pawl 85 hinged thrust by a spring acting in the direction of the arrow f this pawl being held by a stop 86 of the sliding rod 59.

This pawl is made so as to cooperate with the lever 49 engaged with the teeth of the registering pinion 15 so as to disengage this lever from the teeth of the pinion when the key 16 is actuated, this so that the drum 14 and registering pinion 15 return to the starting position under the action of a spring F at the end of the action of the key 16 (end of the return travel).

Actually, when the key 16 is pushed in, the pawl 85 passes over the lower end 49 of the lever 49 without shifting it, but, however, when this key 16 returns to the starting position under the action of the spring acting in the direction of the arrow F the rod 59 lowers under the action of the spring F and the pawl 85 held by the stop 86 tips the end 49 of the lever 49 so that the pinion 15 can return to the starting position.

The appliance also comprises a window 81 through whichthe sum remaining due to the operator appears after he has selected one or more articles, this sum being also the amount of change given to the operator when he presses the key 16.

This indicating device is formed by a pulley 82 mounted on the spindle 34 of the drum 14 so as to rotativcly drive a belt 83 sub-tended at its other end by another pulley 84 placed facing a window 81.

This belt 83 carries figures which come opposite the window 81 with the value corresponding to the angular displacements of the drum 1d and showing the remainder of the sum available.

In FIGURES 6 and 7, methods of embodiment are shown for cutting the registering pinion 15, this cutting being done as a function of the position of the studs 29, 30, 31, 32 on the lever 33 and as a function of the series of slots 30,, 30 30 30 30 In the embodiment example of FIGURE 6, each tooth has been cut for 6 degrees so that the keys 10, 11, 12 and 13 produce an angular displacement respectively of three 18 teeth, four 24 teeth, five 30 teeth, six 36 teeth.

The angular displacement of the pinion 15 corresponding to the angular displacements that are slightly greater of the arm 33, for the angular displacement of the arm 33 takes into account, on the one hand, the angular travel that must be made by the pawls 35 and 49 to reach the bottom of a tooth of the pinion 15 (this angular displacement being for 5 in FIGURE 6), and on the other, the angular displacement necessary to give to the arm 33 so that the spur 35, leaves the stop 35 (this angular dis placement is variable according to the exact position of the studs 20, 30, 31 and 32) on the arms 33. In FIGURE 6, this displacement is for 3 when the keys and 11 are actuated, and for 2 when the keys 12 and 13 are actuated.

The pinion is cut over 180, i.e., it comprises thirty 6 teeth, each tooth corresponding to an amount of 0.05 F and the keys 10, 11, 12 and 13 respectively correspond to the articles of 0.15 F, 0.20 F, 0.25 F, 0.30 F.

In this case, the series of slots used will be shown at 87 in FIGURE 8.

However, this drum 14 can comprise several cuts, and, for instance, that shown at 88 in FIGURE 8, so that it is possible to reverse the drum 14 to utilize this new cutting and distribute articles of diiferent values.

In this case also, the cutting of the registering pinion will be altered. By supposing that we distribute articles at 0.20 F, 0.25 F, 0.30F and 0.35 F respectively by means of the keys 10, 11, 12 and 13, each tooth will have an angular value of five degrees, i.e., that the 180 cut on the pinion will include thirty-six of 5. The distribution of the articles corresponding to the angular displacements of 5, 4, 6, 7 teeth, each tooth will always represent a value of 0.05 F.

The appliance shown in FIGURE 9 and which relates to another method of embodiment also comprises selection components for the articles to be distributed, of which one of them is shown at 100, a registering drum 101 provided with slots 102 arranged in rows 102 102 102 102 etc. The position of the slots of each row being determined according to the value of the change to be given for a considered choice of articles and an assembly 103 (shown by dotted line) which gives change and which, for this purpose, comprises several cavities 103 103 103 and 103, comprising columns of coins.

This assembly 103 is also mounted rocking at its upper end and each column 103 103 103 and 103 is placed facing each row of slots 102 102 103 and 102 so that when the assembly 103 is controlled by rocking, certain of the tongues 104 104 104 and 104 of this assembly are housed in the slots 102 of the rows of slots, Whereas the others, on the other hand, abut on the periphery of the drum, this selection being made by the angular position of the drum. The tongues abutting on the periphery of the drum then sink into the bases of the cavities 103 103 103 and 103 to eject for each coin, the sum of the values of these coins corresponding to the difierence between the value of the coin inserted and the sum of the values of the articles distributed.

These articles, for instance, stamps, telephone tokens or the like and even liquids, are distributed by units such as 105 and 106 which comprise, for example, an electric motor for putting them into operation.

These units 105 and 106 comprise a spindle 107 which makes one complete rotation during the distribution of at least one specimen of the article.

A crank-pin 108 or is fixed on this spindle, whose length is a function of the value of the article to be distributed by the unit in question, i.e., respectively by the units and 106.

Connecting rods 110 and 111 are articulated at the end of the crank-pins, which have their free end extended by a rod 112 and 113.

These rods slide loosely through perforations in the cross bar 114 of the lug 115 mounted rocking.

Owing to this construction, we see that the amplitude of the angular movement made by the lug 115 is a function of the distributing unit which is put into operation, and more precisely, a function of the value of the article distributed by this unit, seeing that the amplitude of the movement is determined by the length of the crankpin 108 or 109 which is actuated.

With a device of this kind, it is thus possible to have in the appliance any number of distributing units, seeing that it sufiices, after having fixed a crank-pin there whose length is a function of the value of the article to be distributed, to establish the link of all these units with the lug 115 which is common.

Moreover, owing to the arrangement of the rods 112 and 113 at the ends of their connecting rods 110 and 111, one of the units can actuate clip 115 without it being hindered by the other units and without these other units being dissociated from the clip.

Under the crossbar 114 of the clip 115 is an arm 116 oscillating at 117 and provided with a connecting rod 118 at its end. In the method of embodiment shown, this connecting rod is linked up with a demultiplying device formed by two pinions of diiferent diameters 119 and 120 and a ratchet wheel 119 integral with the pinion 119. The smaller of these pinions 120 is mounted on the spindle 121 of the registering drum 101, whereas the larger 119, which meshes with the pinion 120, is linked up to the connecting rod 118 by means of the ratchet wheel 119 and the pawl 122. This pawl is placed at the end of an arm 123 pivoting on a coaxial spindle to the pinion 119 and ratchet Wheel 119 In this manner, at each rotation of one of the crank-pins 108 or 109, the connecting rods 110 and 111 rock the clip 115 which, in its turn, pivots the arm 116 and thus the arm 123 for finally revolving the ratchet wheel 119 and the pinions 119 and 120 for a value that is function of the value of the article distributed. The registering drum 101 will thus also revolve by an angle function of this value of the article distributed.

As soon as the distribution of an article has been made and the drum is positioned in a position that is function of the value of this article, the spring diagrammatized at 124 returns the clip 115, the arms 116 and 123 and the connecting rod 118 in the top position, but the drum 101 and the pinions 119 and 120 remain in position owing to the presence of a pawl 125 which prevents a backward movement. The operator can then, and eventually, again select an article by actuating one of the selection components 100.

However, the choice of a new article is not yet possible unless the value remainingto the credit of the operator is greater than the value of the new article chosen, as will be explained.

Cams 126 and 127 are arranged on the spindle 121, whose number corresponds to the number of distributing units placed in the appliance.

These cams each control a contact-piece 128 and 129 each placed in the feed circuit of one of the units 105 and 106. These cams are moreover positioned on the spindle 121 so that they trigger some contact-piece or another when the difference between the value of the coin inserted and the value registered on the drum following the various choices becomes less than the value of the article distributed by the unit considered.

The starting up of the appliance is obtained by selection components 100 formed by contact-pieces whose contacts 100 are placed in the feed circuit of the units. Each contact-piece is controlled by a push-button which is semi-transparent, inside of which a lighting lamp is placed which is arranged in series with the contact-piece considered (128, for instance) and in parallel on the feed source.

In this way, the push-button acting as a telltale remains lit up as long as the operator has a sum to his credit exceeding the value of the article distributed by the unit corresponding to this button. When the various distributing operations are terminated, one of the selection contacts 100 enables the actuating by rocking of the assembly 103, which has the successive effects, firstly, to give change as stated above, then to return the registering components assembly, i.e., the drum 101 and the pinions which control it, to their starting position by actuating the retaining pawl 125 which kept them to the required value.

It will also be noted that another selection contact 100 can eventually enable the assembly 103 to be rocked without any distribution having taken place and when the drum 101 is in its starting position, this operation will enable coins to be returned contained in the assembly 103 as change for the coin inserted in payment.

Of course, the invention is not restricted to the examples of embodiment described and shown above, from which other alternatives can be provided, without going outside of the scope of the invention for that purpose.

What I claim is:

1. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, components for selecting articles for distribution, a spindle, a rotary drum on said spindle and provided with perforations on its periphery, means connecting the selecting components to said drum and rotatively driving said drum for an angular value as a function of the selecting components actuated, a registering component comprising a pinion mounted on said spindle and enabling the operator to choose at least one article by means of the selecting components, a lever pivoted on said spindle, studs on said lever in engagement with each of the selecting components, said studs being staggered on said lever so that for substantially identical travel of the selecting components, the lever pivots for a variable angle as a function of each stud on said lever, a receptacle for containing coins and provided with feeling fingers cooperating with the perforations of the drum for giving change so that the sum of the coins given in change corresponds to the difference between the value of the coin inserted and the value of the articles chosen.

2. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, components for selecting articles for distribution, a spindle, a rotary drum on said spindle and provided with perforations on its periphery, means connecting the selecting components to said drum and rotatively driving said drum for an angular value as a function of the selecting components actuated, a registering component comprising a pinion mounted on said spindle in relation to the drum so that each tooth corresponds to a set of perforations of the drum and that each stop position of the pinion corresponds to a sum of money to be rendered, a non-return pawl engaged with said pinion to prevent its return to the starting position as long as change has not been given, said registering component enabling the operator to choose at least one article by means of the selecting components, a lever pivoted on said spindle, studs on said lever in engagement with each of the selecting components, said studs being staggered on said lever so that for substantially identical travel of the selecting components the lever pivots for a variable angle as a function of the position of each stud on said lever, a receptacle for containing coins and provided with feeling fingers cooperating with the perforations of the drum for giving change so that the sum of the coins rendered corresponds to the diiference between the value of the coin inserted and the value of the articles chosen.

3. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, components for selecting articles for distribution, a spindle, a rotary drum on said spindle and provided with perforations on its periphery, means connecting the selecting components to said drum and rotatively driving said drum for an angular value as a function of the selecting components actuated, a registering component comprising a pinion mounted on said spindle in relation to the drum so that each tooth corresponds to a set of perforations and each stop position of the pinion corresponds to a sum of money to be rendered, a non-return pawl engaged with said pinion to prevent its return to the starting position as long as change has not been given, said registering component enabling the operator to choose at least one article by means of the selecting components, a lever pivoted on said spindle, studs on said lever in engagement with each of the selecting components, said studs being staggered on said lever so that for substantially identical travel of the selecting components the lever pivots by a variable angle as a function of the position of each stud on said lever, a pawl on said lever and cooperating with the registering pinion for its drive, a fixed stop cooperating with said pawl to put it out of action when said lever is in the rest position, a receptacle for containing coins and provided with feeling fingers cooperating with the perforations of the drum for giving change so that the sum of the coins rendered corresponds to the difference between the value of the coin inserted and the value of the articles chosen.

4. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, components for selecting articles for distribution, a spindle, a rotary drum on said spindle and, provided with perforations on its periphery, means conmeeting the selecting components with said drum and rotatively driving said drum for an angular value as a function of the selecting components actuated, a registering component comprising a pinion mounted on said spindie in relation to the drum so that each tooth corresponds to a set of perforations of the drum and that each stop position corresponds to a sum of money to be rendered, a non-return pawl engaged with said pinion for preventing its return to the starting position as long as change has not been given, said registering component enabling the operator to choose at least one article by means of the selecting components, a lever pivoted on said spindle, studs on said lever in engagement with each of the selecting components, said studs being staggered on said lever so that for substantially identical travel of the selecting components the lever pivots for a variable angle as a function of the position of each stud on said lever, a pawl on the lever and cooperating with the registering pinion for its drive, a fixed stop cooperating with said pawl for putting it out of action when said lever is in the rest position, a receptacle for containing coins and provided with feeling fingers cooperating with the perforations of the drum for giving change so that the sum of the coins rendered corresponds to the difference between the value of the coin inserted and the value of the articles chosen, a tiltable passageway receiving the coin inserted through the slot for inserting coins, a rod on the change giving receptacle and cooperating with said tiltable passageway for tilting and making the coin drop into a collecting passage as soon as the change giver is operated.

5. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, components for selecting articles for distribution, a spindle, a rotary drum on said spindle and provided with perforations on its periphery, means connecting the selecting components with said drum and rotatively driving said drum for an angular value as a function of the selecting components actuated, a registering component comprising a pinion mounted on said spindle in relation to the drum so that each tooth corresponds to a set of perforations of the dnim and that each stop position of the pinion corresponds to a sum of money to be rendered, a non-return pawl engaged with said pinion to prevent its return to the starting position as long as change has not been given, said registering component enabling the operator to choose at least one article by means of the seiecting components, a lever pivoted on said spindle, studs on said lever in engagement with each of the selecting components, said studs being staggered on said lever so that for substantially identical travel of the selecting components the lever pivots for a variable angle as a function of the position of each stud on said lever, a pawl on the lever and cooperating with the registering pinion for its drive, a fixed stop cooperating with said pawl to put it out of action when said lever is in the rest position, a receptacle for containing coins and provided with feeling fingers cooperating with the perforations of the drum for giving change so that the sum of the coins rendered corresponds to the difference between the value of the coin inserted and the value of the articles chosen, a tiltable passageway receiving the coin inserted in the slot for inserting coins, a rod on the change giving receptacle and cooperating with the tiltable passageway for tilting and dropping the coin into a collecting passage as soon as the change giver is operated, a locking component under the tiltable passageway and comprising two side by side sliding plates forming a stirrup and being spaced a distance corresponding to the diameter of the coin inserted so that the coin can act as a crossbar and control the displacement of one of the plates for locking when the other plate is actuated, a pawl for controlling the actuation of the locking component and cooperating with said lever.

6. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, components for selecting articles for distribution, a spindle, a rotary drum on said spindle and provided with perforations on its periphery, means connecting the selecting components to said drum and rotatively driving said drum for an angular value as a function of the selecting components actuated, a registering component comprising a pinion mounted on said spindle in relation to the drum so that each tooth corresponds to a set of perforations of the drum and that each stop position of the pinion corresponds to a sum of money to be rendered, a non-return pawl engaged with said pinion to prevent its return to the starting position as long as change has not been given, said registering component enabling the operator to choose at least one article by means of the selecting components, a lever pivoted on said spindle, studs on said lever in engagement with each of the selecting components, said studs being staggered on said lever so that for substantially identical travel of the selecting components the lever pivots for a variable angle as a function of the position of each stud on said lever, a pawl on the lever and cooperating with the registering pinion for its drive, a fixed stop cooperating with said pawl to put it out of action when said lever is in the rest position, a receptacle for containing coins and provided with feeling fingers cooperating with the perforations of the drum for giving change so that the sum of the coins rendered corresponds to the dilference between the value of the coin inserted and the value of the articles chosen, a tiltable passageway receiving the coin inserted in the slot for inserting coins, a rod on the change giving receptacle and cooperating with the tiltable passageway for tilting and dropping the coin into a collecting passage as soon as the change giver is operated, a locking component under the tiltable passageway and comprising two side by side sliding plates forming a stirrup and being spaced a distance corresponding to the diameter of the coin inserted so that the coin acts as a crossbar and controls the displacement of one of the plates for locking while the other plate is actuated, a pawl for controlling the actuation of the locking component, said latter pawl cooperating with said lever, a slider near the selecting components and comprising a series of cores placed end to end, an inclined plane integral with the selecting components for housing between the cores, the maximum displacement of the cores corresponding to the width of an inclined ramp for automatically blocking all the other selecting components as soon as one of them is actuated.

7. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, components for selecting articles for distribution, a spindle, a rotary drum on said spindle and, provided with perforations on its periphery, means connecting the selecting components to said drum and rotatively driving said drum by an angular value as a function of the selecting components actuated, a registering component comprising a pinion mounted on said spindle in relation to the drum so that each tooth corresponds to a set of perforations of the drum and that each stop position of the pinion corresponds to a sum of money to be rendered, a non-return pawl engaged with said pinion to prevent its return to the starting position as long as no change has been given, said registering component enabling the operator to choose at least one article by means of the selecting components, a lever pivoted on said spindle, studs on said lever in engagement with each of the selecting components, said studs being staggered on said lever so that for substantially identical travel of the selecting components the lever pivots for a variable angle as a function of the position of each stud on said lever, a pawl on the lever and cooperating with the registering pinion for its drive, a fixed stop cooperating with said pawl to put it out of action when said lever is in the rest position, a receptacle for containing coins and provided with feeling fingers cooperating with the perforations of the drum for giving change so that the sum of the coins rendered corresponds to the difference between the value of the coin inserted and the value of the articles chosen, a tiltable passageway receiving the coin inserted through the slot for inserting coins, a rod on the change giving receptacle and cooperating with the tiltable passageway for tilting and dropping the coin into a collecting passage as soon as the change giver is operated, a locking component under the tiltable passageway comprising two side by side sliding plates forming a stirrup being spaced a distance corresponding to the diameter of the coin inserted so that the coin can act as crossbar and control the displacement of one of the plates for locking when the other plate is actuated, a pawl for controlling the actuation of the locking component, said latter pawl cooperating with said lever, a slider close to the selecting components, said slider being closed at one of its ends, the other end being placed facing the plates of the locking component, a series of cores placed end to end in the slider, an inclined plane integral with each of the selecting components, the length of the slider defined by its closed end and the plates of the locking components being such that no selecting component can be pushed in when no coin is inserted in the appliance.

8. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, components for selecting articles for distribution, a spindle, a rotary drum on said spindle and provided with perforations on its periphery, means connecting the selecting components to said drum and rotatively driving said drum by an angular value as a function of the selecting components actuated, a registering component comprising a pinion mounted on said spindle in relation to the drum so that each tooth corresponds to a set of perforations of the drum and that each stop position of the pinion corresponds to a sum of money to be rendered, a non-return pawl engaged with said pinion to prevent its return to the starting position as long as no change has been given, said registering component enabling the operator to choose at least one article by means of the selecting components, a lever pivoted on the spindle, studs on said lever in engagement with each of the selecting components, said studs being staggered on said lever so that for substantially identical travel of the selecting components the lever pivots for a variable angle as a function of the position of each stud on said lever, a pawl on the lever and cooperating with the registering pinion for its drive, a fixed stop cooperating with said pawl to put it out of action when said lever is in the rest position, a receptacle for containing coins and provided with feeling fingers cooperating with the perforations of the drum for giving change so that the sum of the coins to be rendered corresponds to the difference between the value of the coin inserted and the value of the articles chosen, a tiltable passageway receiving the coin inserted through the slot for inserting coins, a rod on the change giving receptacle and cooperating with the tiltable passageway for tilting and dropping the coin in a collecting passage as soon as the change giver is operated, a locking component under the tiltable passageway and comprising two side by side sliding plates forming a stirrup and being spaced a distance corresponding to the diameter of the coin inserted so that the coin can act as a crossbar and control the displacement of one of the plates for locking while the other plate is actuated, a pawl for controlling the actuating of the locking component, said latter pawl cooperating with the lever, a slider near the selecting components, said slider being closed at one of its ends, the other end being placed facing the plates of the locking component, a series of cores placed end to end in the slider, an inclined plane integral with each of the selecting components, the length of the slider defined by its closed end and the plates of the locking components being such that no selecting component can be pushed in when no coin has been inserted in the appliance, a notch in the plates of the locking component, the depth of each notch corresponding to the width of a ramp on one of the selecting components to allow only one selecting component to be actuated at a time when a coin is inserted in the appliance and is placed in a crossbar position and has displaced the plates of the selecting component in order to place the notch at the end of the slider.

9. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, components for selecting articles for distribution, a spindle, a rotary drum on said spindle and provided with perforations on its periphery, a registering component comprising a pinion mounted on the shaft of said spindle, a non-return pawl engaged with said pinion, a lever pivoted on the spindle, studs on said lever in engagement with each of the selecting components, a pawl on the lever and cooperating with the registering pinion and with a stop putting said pawl out of action when the lever is in the rest position, a tiltable passageway, means for introducing a coin, a locking component comprising two side by side sliding plates forming a stirrup under the tiltable passageway, a tiltable receptacle for containing coins to be rendered, feeling fingers on said receptacle and cooperating with the perforations of the drum, a slider provided with a series of cores placed end to end, inclined planes integral with the selecting components for causing the displacement of said cores, said slider being under the plates of the locking component to prevent the selecting components from engaging when no coin has been inserted in the appliance, a rack on each of the selecting components, each of said racks being provided with a cavity at their ends, a pawl finger cooperating with said rack and with the cavities to enable the return to the initial position of each selecting component only after the selecting component in question has been conveyed to the end of its travel.

10. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, components for selecting articles for distribution, a spindle, a rotary drum on said spindle and provided with perforations on its periphery, a registering component comprising a pinion mounted on said spindle, a non-return pawl engaged with said pinion, a lever pivoted on the spindle, studs on said lever in engagement with each of the selecting components, a pawl on the lever and cooperating with the registering pinion and with a stop putting said pawl out of action when the lever is in the rest position, a tiltable passageway, means for inserting a coin, a locking component comprising two side'by side sliding plates forming a stirrup under the tiltable passageway, a tiltable receptacle for containing coins to be rendered, feeling fingers on said receptacle and cooperating with the perforation of the drum, a slider provided with a series of cores placed end to end, inclined planes integral with the selecting components for causing the displacement of said cores, said slider being under the plates of the locking component to prevent the engagement with the selecting components as long as no coin has been inserted in the appliance, a starting component controlling the distribution of articles at the end of each selecting component so that it is actuated by the selecting component in question when the latter reaches its end of travel.

11. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, components for selecting articles for distribution, a spindle, a rotary drum on said spindle and provided with perforations on its periphery, a registering component comprising a pinion mounted on said spindle, a non-return pawl engaged with said pinion, a lever pivoted on the spindle, studs on said lever in engagement with each of the selecting components, a pawl on the lever and cooperating with the registering pinion and with a stop putting said pawl out of action when the lever is in the rest position, a tiltable passageway, means for inserting a coin, a locking component comprising two side by side sliding plates forming a stirrup under the tiltable passageway, 11 tiltable receptacle for containing coins to be rendered, feeling fingers on said receptacle and cooperating with the perforations of the drum, a slider provided with a series of cores placed end to end inclined planes integral with the selecting components for causing the displacement of said cores, said slider being under the plates of the locking component to prevent the engagement with the selecting components as long as no coin has been inserted in the appliance, a mobile assembly in engagement with the perforated drum, the registering pinion and selecting components and blocking at least one of the selecting components as soon as the difference between the value of the coin inserted and the sum of the values of the articles chosen becomes less than one of the articles chosen by the selecting components.

12. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, components for selecting articles for distribution, a spindle, a rotary drum on said spindle and provided with perforations on its periphery, a registering component comprising a pinion mounted on said spindle, a non-return pawl engaged with said pinion, a lever pivoted on the spindle, studs on said lever and in engage ment with each of the selecting components, a pawl on the lever and cooperating with the registering pinion and with a stop putting this pawl out of action when the lever is in the rest position, a tiltable passageway, means for inserting a coin, a locking component comprising two side by side sliding plates forming a stirrup under the tiltable passageway, a tiltable receptacle for containing coins to be rendered, feeling fingers on said receptacle and cooperating with the perforations of the drum, a slider provided with a series of cores placed end to end, inclined planes integral with the selecting components for causing the displacement of said cores, said slider being under the plates of the locking component to prevent the engagement with the selecting components as long as no coin has been inserted in the appliance, a mobile assembly comprising a cam integral with the spindle and registering pinion, a second lever pressing on said cam, a slider provided with notches near the selecting components and controlled by said second lever for blocking at least one of the selecting components as soon as the difference between the value of the coin inserted and the sum of the values of the articles chosen becomes less than at least one of the articles chosen by the selecting levers.

13. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, components for selecting articles for distribution, a spindle, a rotary drum on said spindle and provided with perforations on its periphery, a registering component comprising a pinion mounted on the shaft of said spindle, a non-return pawl engaged with said pinion, a lever pivoted on the spindle, studs on said lever and in engagement with each of the selecting components, a pawl on the lever and cooperating with the registering pinion and with a stop putting said pawl out of action when the lever is in the rest position, a tiltable passageway, means for inserting a coin, a locking component comprising two side by side sliding plates forming a stirrup under the tiltable passageway, a tiltable receptacle for containing coins to be rendered, feeling fingers on said receptacle and cooperating with the perforations of the drum, a slider provided with a series of cores placed end to end, inclined planes integral with the selecting components for causing the displacement of said cores, said slider being under the plates of the locking component to prevent the engagement with the selecting components as long as no coin has been inserted in the appliance, a mobile assembly comprising a cam integral with the spindle and registering pinion, a second lever pressing on said cam, a slider provided with notches near the selecting components and movable perpendicularly to said selecting components according to the value of the rotation angle made by the drum, studs integral with the selecting components and housed in the notches of the slider, said notches being of different sizes so that at least one of the selecting components can be blocked as soon as the difference between the value of the coin inserted and the sum of the values of the articles chosen becomes less than one of the articles chosen by the selecting levers.

14. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, components for selecting articles for distribution, a spindle, a rotary drum on said spindle and provided with perforations on its periphery, a registering component comprising a pinion mounted on said spindle, a non-return pawl engaged with said pinion, a lever pivoted on the spindle, studs on said lever and in engagement with each of the selecting components, a pawl on the lever and cooperating with the registering pinion and with a stop putting said pawl out of action when the lever is in the rest position, a tiltable passageway, means for inserting a coin, a locking component comprising two side by side sliding plates forming a stirrup under the tiltable passageway, a tiltable receptacle for containing coins to be rendered, feeling fingers on said receptacle and cooperating with the perforations of the drum, a slider provided with a series of cores placed end to end, inclined planes integral with the selecting components for causing the displacement of said cores, said slider being under the plates of the locking component to prevent the engagement with the selecting components as long as no coin has been inserted in the appliance, a window on the distributing appliance and showing at each moment the remainder of the sum available as a function of the sum of the values of the articles chosen.

15'. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, components for selecting articles for distribution, a spindle, a rotary drum on said spindle and provided with perforations on its periphery, a registering component comprising a pinion mounted on said spindle, a non-return pawl engaged with said pinion, a lever pivoted on the spindle, studs on said lever and in engagement with each of the selecting components, a pawl on the lever and cooperating with the registering pinion and with a stop putting said pawl out of action when the lever is in the rest position, a tiltable passageway, a locking component comprising two side by side sliding plates forming a stirrup under the tiltable passageway, a tiltable receptacle for containing coins to be rendered, feeling fingers on said receptacle and cooperating with the perforations of the drum, a slider provided with a series of cores placed end to end, inclined planes integral with the selecting components to cause the displacement of said cores, said slider being under the plates of the locking component to prevent engagement with the selecting components as long as no coin has been inserted in the appliance, a window in the distributing appliance and comprising an endless belt provided with figures corresponding to the various sums that can be available, pulleys mounted on the spindle and causing the endless belt to unwind in front of said window, the displacement of the endless belt being a function of the rotation made by the drum and registering pinion.

16. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, components for selecting articles for distribution, a spindle, a rotary drum on said spindle and provided with perforations on its periphery, a registering component comprising a pinion mounted on said spindle, a non-return pawl engaged with said pinion, a lever pivoted on the spindle, studs on said lever and in engagement with each of the selecting components, a pawl on the lever and cooperating with the registering pinion and with a stop putting said pawl out of action when the lever is in the rest position, a tiltable passageway, means for inserting a coin, a locking component comprising two side by side sliding plates forming a stirrup under the tilta'ble passageway, a tiltable receptacle for containing coins to be rendered, feeling fingers on said receptacle and cooperating with the perforations of the drum, a change giving device in engagement with the receptacle and comprising a key accessible from outside the distributing appliance, means connected with the selecting components to prevent the actuating of said control key as long as all the selecting components are not in the rest position, a cam on the spindle and cooperating with said key for disconnecting the change giving assembly when no article has been chosen.

17. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, components for selecting articles for distribution, a spindle, a rotary drum on said spindle and provided with perforations on its periphery, a registering component comprising a pinion mounted on said spindle, a non-return pawl engaged with said pinion, a lever pivoted on the spindle, studs on said lever and in engagement with each of the selecting components, a pawl on the lever and cooperating with the registering pinion and with a stop putting said pawl out of action when the lever is in the rest position, a tiltable passageway, means for inserting a coin, a locking component comprising two side-by-side sliding plates forming a stirrup under the tiltable passageway, a tiltable receptacle for containing coins to be rendered, feeling fingers on said receptacle and cooperating with the perforations of the drum, a change giving device in engagement with the receptacle and comprising a key accessible from outside the distributing appliance, means connected with the selecting components to prevent the actuating of said control key as long as all the selecting components are not in the rest position, said means comprising a rod displaceable by an inclined plane of said key and abutting the stirrup plates when none of the selecting components are actuated, a cam on the spindle and cooperating with the key to disengage it when no article has been chosen,

18. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, components for selecting articles for distribution, a spindle, a rotary drum on said spindle and provided with perforations on its periphery, a registering component comprising a pinion mounted on said spindle, a non-return pawl engaged with said pinion, a lever pivoted on the spindle, studs on said lever and in engagement with each of the selecting components, a pawl on the lever and cooperating with the registering pinion and with a stop putting said pawl out of action when the lever is in the rest position, a tiltable passageway, means for inserting a coin, a locking component comprising two sideby-side sliding plates forming a stirrup under the tiltable passageway, a tiltable receptacle for containing coins to be rendered, feeling fingers on said receptacle and cooperating with the perforations of the drum, a change giving device in engagement with the receptacle and comprising a key accessible from the outside of the distributing device, means connected with the selecting components for preventing the actuating of said control key as long as all the selecting components are not in the rest position, said means comprising a rod displaceable by an inclined plane of said key and abutting the stirrup plates when none of the selecting components are actuated, a cam on the spindle, a hinged arm engaging said cam, the profile of said cam being such that the hinged arm is not in the alignment of the control rod of the change giving device when the drum and registering pinion are not yet driven in angular displacement, and, on the other hand, so as to place said hinged arm in the extension of said rod when the drum has made an angul8 lar displacement under the action of one of the selecting components.

19. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, components for selecting articles for distribution, a spindle, a rotary drum on said spindle and provided with perforations on its periphery, a registering component comprising a pinion mounted on said spindle, a non-return pawl engaged with said pinion, a lever pivoted on the spindle, studs on said lever in engagement with each of the selecting components, a pawl on the lever and cooperating with the registering pinion and with a stop putting said pawl out of action when the lever is in the rest position, a tiltable passageway, means for inserting a coin, a locking component comprising two side-by-side sliding plates forming a stirrup under the tiltable passageway, a tiltable receptacle for containing coins to be rendered, feeling fingers on said receptacle and cooperating with the perforations of the drum, columns for coins of various valves in said receptacle, a weight provided with a stud in each of said columns, said receptacle having openings at the lower end of each of the columns for passage of said weight stud when the respective coin column no longer contains coins, a stirrup under said openings to be engaged by the weight stud when it passes through the respective opening, means engaged by said stirrup to place said receptacle in the closed position when one .of the columns is empty of cows.

20. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, components for selecting articles for distribution, a spindle, a rotary drum on said spindle and provided with perforations on its periphery, a registering component comprising a pinion mounted on said spindle, a non-return pawl engaged with said pinion, a lever pivoted on the spindle, studs on said lever in engagement with each of the selecting components, a pawl on the lever and cooperating with the registering pinion and with a stop putting said pawl out of action when the lever is in the rest position, a tiltable passageway, means for inserting a coin, a locking component comprising two side-by-side sliding plates forming a stirrup under the tiltable passageway, a tiltable receptacle for containing coins to be rendered, feeling fingers on said recep-- tacle and cooperating with the perforations of the drum, columns for coins of various values in said receptacle, a weight provided with a stud in each of said columns, said receptacle having openings at the lower end of each of the columns, for passage of said weight stud when the respective coin column no longer contains coins, a stirrup under said openings to be engaged by the weight stud when it passes through the respective opening means engaged by said stirrup to place said receptacle in a closed position when one of the columns is emptied of coins, a wire connected to said stirrup, a pivoted plate connected with and actuated by said wire for closing the coin insertion component and thus closing the distributing appliance as soon as the stirrup is engaged by a Weight stud when one of the columns is emptied of coins.

21. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, distributing units each provided with a spindle and distributing a specimen at least of the article at each rotation of said spindle, components for selecting articles for distribution and controlling the distributing units, a rotary drum provided with perforations on its periphery, a crank-pin on the spindle of each distributing unit, the length of said crank-pin being a function of the value of the article for distribution for obtaining at each rotation of the spindle a movement whose amplitude is a function of the value of the article distributed by the respective unit, a registering component comprising a pinion connected with the drum, a non-return pawl engaging said pinion for preventing its return to the starting position so long as change has not been given, said registering component enabling the operator to choose at least one article by means of the selection components, a rod system connecting the crank-pins of the distributing units to the registering pinion so that each rotation of a cranlepin the latter rotatively drives the drum by an angular value function of the distributing unit actuated, a receptable receiving coins and provided with feeler fingers cooperating with the perforations of the drum for giving change so that the sum of the coins rendered corresponds to the difference between the value of the coin inserted and the value of the article or articles chosen.

22. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, distributing units each provided with a spindle and distributing a specimen at least of the article at each rotation of said spindle, components for selecting articles for distribution and controlling the distributing units, :a rotary drum provided with perforations on its periphery, a crank-pin on the spindle of each distributing unit, the length of said crank-pin being a function of the valve of the article for distribution for obtaining at each rotation of the spindle a movement whose amplitude is a function of the value of the article distributed by the respective unit, a registering component comprising a pinion connected with the drum, a non-return pawl engaging said pinion for preventing its return to the starting position as long as change has not been given, said registering component enabling the operator to select at least one article by means of said selecting components, a connecting rod articulated to the end of each crank-pin, a tipping stirrup common to each of the distributing units, a rod system transmitting movements of the tipping stirrup to said registering pinion so that at each rotation of any of the crankpins the tipping stirrup drives the drum rotatively by an angular value function of the distributing unit actuated, a receptacle for containing coins and provided with feeler fingers cooperating with the perforations of the drum for giving change so that the sum of the coins rendered corresponds to the difference between the value of the coin inserted and the value of the article or articles chosen.

23. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, distributing units each provided with a spindle and distributing at least one specimen of the article at each rotation of said spindle, components controlling the distributing units, a rotary drum provided with perforations on its periphery, a crank-pin on the spindle of each distributing unit, the length of said crank pin being a function of the value of the article for distribution for obtaining a movement at each rotation of the spindle whose amplitude is a function of the value of the article distributed by the respective unit, a registering component comprising a pinion connected with the drum, a non-return pawl engaging said pinion for preventing its return to the starting position as long as change has not been given, said registering component enabling the operator to choose at least one article by means of said selection components, a connecting rod articulated to the end and having an extension, a tipping stirrup common to all the distributing units and slidably receiving said extensions, a rod system transmitting movements of the tipping stirrup to said registering pinion so that at each rotation of any of the crank pins the tipping stirrup rotatively drives the drum by a value function of the distributing unit actuated, a receptacle for containing coins and provided with feeler fingers cooperating with the perforations of the drum for giving change so that the sum of the coins rendered corresponds to the difference between the value of the coin inserted and the value of the article or articles chosen.

24. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, distributing units each provided with a spindle and distributing at least one specimen of the article at each rotation of said spindle, components for selecting articles for distribution and controlling the distributing units, a rotary drum provided with perforations on its periphery, a crank-pin on the spindle of each distributing unit, the length of the cranlcpin being a function of the value of the article for distribution for obtaining a movement at each rotation of the spindle whose amplitude is a function of the value of the article distributed by the respective unit, a registering component comprising a pinion connected with the drum, a non-return pawl engaging said pinion for preventing its return to the starting position as long as change has not been given, said registering component enabling the operator to select at least one article by means of the selection components, a connecting rod pivoted at the end of each crank-pin and having an extension, a tipping stirrup common to all the distributing units and slidably receiving said extensions, an arm oscillatable by the tipping stirrup and connected by a connecting rod to the registering pinion so that at each rotation of any of the crank-pins the tipping stirrup rotatively drives the drum by an angular value function of the respective distributing unit, a receptacle for containing coins and provided with feeler fingers cooperating with the perforations of the drum for giving change so that the sum of the coins rendered corresponds to the difference between the value of the coin inserted and the value of the article or articles chosen.

25. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, distributing units each provided with a spindle and distributing at least one specimen of the article at each rotation of said spindle, components for selecting articles for distributing and controlling the distributing units, a rotary drum provided with perforations on its periphery, a crank-pin on the spindle of each distributing unit, the length of said crank-pin being a function of the value of the article for distribution for obtaining a movement at each rotation of the spindle Whose amplitude is a function of the value of the article distributed by the respective unit, a registering component comprising a pinion connected to the drum, a non-return pawl engaging said pinion to prevent its return to the starting position as long as change has not been given, said registering component enabling the operator to choose at least one article by means of said selection components, a connecting rod pivoted to the end and having an extension, a tipping stirrup common to all the distributing units and slidably receiving said extension, an arm oscillatable by the tipping stirrup and connected by a connecting rod to the registering pinion so that at each rotation of any of the crank-pins the tipping stirrup rotatively drives the drum by an angular value function of the respective distributing unit, a demultiplying device comprising at least two pinions of different diameter, one of said pinions being integral with the pinion of the registering component, the other of said pinions being integral with the perforated drum, a receptacle for containing coins and provided with feeler fingers cooperating with the perforations on the drum for giving change so that the sum of the coins rendered corresponds to the difference between the value of the coin inserted and the value of the article or articles chosen.

26. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, distributing units each provided with a spindle and distributing at least one specimen of the article at each rotation of said spindle, components for selecting articles for distribution and controlling the distributing units, a rotary drum provided with perforations on its periphery, a crankpin on the spindle of each distributing unit, the length of said crank-pin being a function of the value of the article for distribution for obtaining a movement at each rotation of the spindle whose amplitude is a function of the value of the article distributed by the respective unit, a registering component comprising a pinion connected with the drum, a nonreturn pawl engaging said pinion to prevent its return to the starting position as long as change has not been given, said registering component enabling the operator to choose at least one article by means of the selection components, a connecting rod pivoted to the end of each crank-pin and having an extension, a tipping stirrup common to all the distributing units and slidably 21 receiving said extensions, an arm oscillatable by the tipping stirrup and connected by a connecting rod provided with a pawl device, engaging said registering pinion so that at each rotation of any of the crank-pins the tipping stirrup rotatively drives the drum for an angular value function of the respective distributor unit, a demultiplying device comprising at least two pinions of different diameter, one of said pinions being integral with the registering pinion, the other of said pinions being integral with the perforated drum, a receptacle for containing coins and provided with feeler fingers cooperating with the perforations on the drum for giving change so that the sum of the coins rendered corresponds to the difference between the value of the coin inserted and the value of the article or articles chosen.

27. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, distributing units each provided with a spindle and distributing at least one specimen of the article at each rotation of said spindle, electric contact makers for selecting articles for distribution and controlling the distributing units, a rotary drum provided with perforations on its periphery, a crank-pin on the spindle of each distributing unit, the length of said crank-pin being a function of the value of the article for distribution for obtaining a movement at each rotation of the spindle whose amplitude is a function of the value of the article distributed by the respective unit, a registering component comprising a pinion connected with the drum, a non-return pawl engaging said pinion to prevent it returning to the starting position as long as change has not been given, said registering component enabling the operator to choose at least one article by means of said electric contact makers for selection, a connecting rod pivoted to the end of each crank-pin and having an extension, a tipping stirrup common to all the distributing units and slidably receiving said extensions, an arm oscillatable by the tipping stirrup and connected by a connecting rod provided with a pawl de vice to the registering pinion so that at each rotation of any of the crank-pins the tipping stirrup rotatively drives the drum by an angular value function of the distributing unit actuated, a demultiplying device comprising at least two pinions of different diameter, one of said pinions being integral with the registering pinion, the other of said pinions being fixed with the perforated drum, a receptacle for containing coins and provided with feeler fingers cooperating with the perforations on the drum for giving change so that the sum of the coins rendered corresponds to the difference between the value of the coin inserted and the value of the article or articles chosen.

28. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, distributing units each provided With a spindle and distributing at least one specimen of the article at each rotation of said spindle, electric contact makers for selecting articles for distribution and controlling the distributing units, a spindle, a rotary drum mounted on said latter spindle and provided with perforations on its periphery, a crank-pin on the spindle of each distributing unit, the length of said crank-pin being a function of the value of the article for distribution for obtaining a movement at each rotation of the spindle whose amplitude is a function of the value of the article distributed by the respective unit, a registering component comprising a pinion connected with the drum, a non-return pawl engaging said pinion to prevent its return to the starting position as long as change has not been given, said registering component enabling the operator to choose at least one article by means of said electric selection contact makers, a connecting rod pivoted to the end of each crank-pin and having an extension, a tipping stirrup common to all the distributing units and slidably receiving said extensions, an arm oscillatable by the tipping stirrup and connected by a cona pawl device to the registering pinion so that at each rotation of any of the crankpins the tipping stirrup rotatively drives the drum for an angular value function of the respective distributing unit, a demultiplying device comprising at least two pinions of different diameter, one of said pinions being integral with the registering pinion, the other of said pinions being integral with the perforated drum, a receptacle receiving coins and provided with feeler fingers cooperating with the perforations of the drum for giving change so that the sum of the coins rendered corresponds to the difierence between the value of the coin inserted and the value of the article or articles chosen, cams positioned on the spindle of the perforated drum, electric contact makers connected with said cams, each electric contact maker being placed in series in the feed circuit of one of the respective distributing units, each cam being positioned on the spindle of the perforated drum according to the value of the article distributed by the distributing unit with which it is connected, said contact makers controlled by said cams thus cutting out the feed to the distributing unit considered as soon as the difference between the value of the coin inserted in the appliance and the sum of the values of the articles distributed determined by the angular position of the drum becomes less than the value of the article distrib uted by the respective unit.

29. A distributing appliance comprising means for inserting a coin, distributing units each provided with a spindle and distributing at least one specimen of the article at each rotation of said spindle, electric contact makers for selecting articles for distribution and controlling the distributing units, a spindle, a rotary drum mounted on said latter spindle and provided with perforations on its periphery, a crank-pin on the spindle of each distributing unit, the length of said crank-pin being a function of the value of the article for distribution for obtaining a movement at each rotation of the spindle whose amplitude is a function of the value of the article distributed by the respective unit, a registering component comprising a pinion connected with the drum, a non-return pawl engaging said pinion to prevent its return to the starting position as long as change has not been given, said registering component enabling the operator to choose at least one article by means of said electric selection contact makers, a connecting rod pivoted to the end of each crank-pin and having an extension, a tipping stirrup common to all the distributing units and slidably receiving said extensions, an arm oscillatable by the tipping stirrup and connected by a connecting rod provided with a pawl device to the registering pinion so that at each rotation of any of the crankpins the tipping stirrup rotatively drives the drum for an angular value function of the respective distributing unit, a demultiplying device comprising at least two pinions of different diameter, one of said pinions being integral with the registering pinion, the other of said pinions being integral with the perforated drum, a receptacle receiving coins and provided with feeler fingers cooperating with the perforations on the drum for giving change so that the sum of the coins to be rendered corresponds to the difference between the value of the coin inserted and the value of the article or articles chosen, cams positioned in the spindle of the perforated drum, electric contact makers in connection with said cams, each said electric contact maker being arranged in series in the feed circuit of one of the distributing units, each cam being positioned on the spindle of the perforated drum according to the value of the article distributed by the distributing unit with which it is connected, said contact makers controlled by said cams thus cutting out the feed of the distributing unit considered as soon as the difference between the value of the coin inserted in the appliance and the sum of the values of the articles distributed determined by the angular posinecting rod provided with 23 24 tion of the drum becomes less than the value of the References Cited article distributed by the respective unit, an electric lamp UNITED STATES PATENTS in each contact malcer fer selecting articles, said electric 2,634,846 4/1953 Arashim et aL 194 10 mp belng placed in parallel on the feed circuit of each 3 061,184 10/1962 Becker 194 2 X distributing unit and in series with the contact maker 5 3,185 281 5/1965 Gross 194 2 controlled by a can! and cutting out the feed to the respective distributing unit considered. STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DISTRIBUTING APPLIANCE COMPRISING MEANS FOR INSERTING A COIN, COMPONENTS FOR SELECTING ARTICLES FOR DISTRIBUTION, A SPINDLE, A ROTARY DRUM ON SAID SPINDLE AND PROVIDED WITH PERFORATIONS ON ITS PERIPHERY, MEANS CONNECTING THE SELECTING COMPONENTS TO SAID DRUM AND ROTATIVELY DRIVING SAID DRUM FOR AN ANGULAR VALUE AS A FUNCTION OF THE SELECTING COMPONENTS ACTUATED, A REGISTERING COMPONENT COMPRISING A PINION MOUNTED ON SAID SPINDLE AND ENABLING THE OPERATOR TO CHOOSE AT LEAST ONE ARTICLE BY MEANS OF THE SELECTING COMPONENTS, A LEVER PIVOTED ON SAID SPINDLE, STUDS ON SAID LEVER IN ENGAGEMENT WITH EACH OF THE SELECTING COMPONENTS, SAID STUDS BEING STAGGERED ON SAID LEVER SO THAT FOR SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL TRAVEL OF THE SELECTING COMPONENTS, THE LEVER PIVOTS FOR A VERTICAL ANGLE AS A FUNCTION OF EACH STUD ON SAID LEVER, A RECEPTACLE FOR CONTAINING COINS AND PROVIDED WITH FEELING FINGERS COOPERATING WITH THE PERFORATIONS OF THE DRUM FOR GIVING CHANGE SO THAT THE SUM OF THE COINS GIVEN IN CHANGE CORRESPONDS TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE VALUE OF THE COIN INSERTED AND THE VALUE OF THE ARTICLES CHOSEN. 